China is reportedly working to develop a custom operating system (OS) for military computers in order to replace the Windows systems currently in use. The initiative follows a “security by obscurity” approach that aims to make it more difficult for US government hackers and other foreign threat actors to conduct cyber espionage campaigns targeting China’s military.
The new strategy comes at a time of increased trade tensions between China and the US, and efforts by both countries to limit the use of foreign technology by domestic firms over security concerns. Earlier this month, US President Donald Trump declared a national economic emergency allowing the government to ban technology solutions of “foreign adversaries” that pose “unacceptable risks” to national security. In response, China recently announced that it is introducing new legislation that could be used to bar the use of US technology by Chinese firms.
Read more: Chinese military to replace Windows OS amid fears of US hacking
